Broken

.5.

I was pulled out of unconsciousness by Rhex as he lowered me onto a rather comfortable bed. I went to roll over to go back to sleep when he gave me a small but firm shake. I let out a groan at the bright light that came on above me. It was like shards of glass digging into my eyes and my muscles ached with a pain I was pretty sure I had never felt before. I closed my eyes again and Rhex gave me another small shake to keep me awake.

I turned my head to look at him, trying my best to keep the exhaustion from taking over. It was obvious he didn't want me to sleep and I wanted to know why. He shook his head and held up a single finger as he said something in Orrian. I looked at the finger and blinked slowly, it was a similar gesture that my dad had given me growing up. If he was busy with work he wouldn't say anything and just hold up a single finger as if to say 'One moment, Liv.' I wondered if that was what he was trying to tell me.

I blinked slowly, my eyelids feeling like heavy weights. When I managed to pry my eyes open again, Rhex was gone. I attempted to lift up my head to see where he went and failed miserably. I let out a breath and let my body sink further into the comfortable mattress.

The room was slightly cool and I wished I could wrap myself up in a blanket. I could hear someone moving around and the urge to try lifting my head again was rather strong but my neck felt like a wet noodle. Rhex appeared in my peripheral vision holding a cup in one hand and a small vial in the other.

He sat down beside me, the mattress tilting me towards his larger frame. He slid one arm under my back and practically lifted me to sitting. I felt my head loll backwards and his arm slid up my back, his elbow turning slightly holding my head steady. He murmured something softly as the lip of the vial was placed on my bottom lip. As if by instinct I felt my mouth open slightly before he poured the liquid into my mouth. It was incredibly bitter and I made a face but swallowed it, hating the strange aftertaste it left in my mouth.

I scrunched up my nose and a strange rumbling came from Rhex and I smiled when I realized he was chuckling. Cool glass replaced the vial on my lips and I glanced up at Rhex with suspicion. He gave me an amused smile and my eyes were drawn to his scar, it bunched slightly as if not used to the shape his mouth was making. I felt sympathy for him, hating that the scar was there but understanding why it was. Not everyone left the front untouched.

He pressed the rim of the cup to my lips again and I opened my mouth, the cool water seemed to wash away the bitter taste of whatever was in the vial. I drank for a few moments before he took the cup away and set it somewhere I couldn't see.

He gently laid me back down, his arm sliding back out from under my back. I missed the contact as soon as it was gone, he stood up and I jolted slightly as he picked up one of my legs slightly to pull my sneaker off. I watched as he untied the laces and I blinked sleepily as he pulled it off along with my sock before moving to my other leg.

Once my shoes were off he moved back to my side before picking me up off the bed. I wrapped my arms around his neck without thinking as he held me tightly with one arm and flipped back the blanket with the other. He lowered me back onto the bed and I let his neck go as he set me down, tucking me under the blanket.

I winced as a muscle group in my arm seized suddenly. I reached over to grab it but his hands were there first, massaging the cramp away. I let my hand fall on top of his, too tired to move it back. He stopped massaging my arm and gently moved my hand off of his before I closed my eyes, unable to keep them open anymore. The lights shut off and I could barely hear the door close as I fell asleep once more.

~~~~~~~~

"Liv." The sound of my name pulled out from my sleep and I cracked an eye open, my brain feeling fuzzy. The pain in my muscles was gone and I stretched under the warm blanket, relieved that they moved as they should. "Liv." A strong hand brushed my cheek and I found my gaze latching onto Rhex's form as he grasped my shoulder and helped me to sit up. I ran a hand through my hair and blinked sleepily before rubbing my eyes, trying to rid myself of the fogginess.